Whether you dream of becoming an Olympian or are simply gathering with loved ones to watch the games, Republicans’ tariffs are raising costs and making Olympic traditions harder to afford. This report details how tariffs are raising costs on winter sports, watch parties, and winter travel and snow removal.
Rising Costs Across Winter Sports
Trump and congressional Republicans’ tariffs are raising the cost of sporting equipment and facilities, putting winter sports further out of reach for people inspired by Olympians.
Tariffs Drive Up Ski Equipment Prices Roughly 20%
The tariffs imposed by the Trump administration and backed by Republicans in Congress have raised the cost of skis, driving up prices on imported skis and on components necessary for making skis in the U.S. As Ski Magazine put it, “Ski prices are set to rise this winter, and tariffs are to blame.”
- Large ski retailers have estimated that the average duty rate on skiing products would be 20% or that they were looking at a $50 increase per pair of skis on average.
- The president of Snowsports Industries America similarly said that a 20% increase, on average, is what consumers are expected to face when purchasing winter sports gear, including ski equipment.
- Because most skiing equipment is made from materials from abroad, the ski industry expected higher prices on not only skis, but also snowboards, boots, bindings, helmets, goggles, and more ski apparel.
- Steel and aluminum, in particular, are key materials in skis, so the tariffs on both of these materials have impacted the cost of ski equipment. These tariffs have also raised the cost of assembling, manufacturing, and importing critical equipment for ski slopes, including ski lifts, snowmobiles and snowcats.
- Consumers have even seen higher prices on some skis that were ordered before the tariffs were in effect but had not yet arrived in the U.S. – it was too late for retailers to change their orders and they were thus forced to raise prices.
Tariffs Make Playing Hockey More Expensive
Hockey gear is notoriously expensive, with the total cost of gear for a young player potentially totalling $1,500, and some pieces need to be replaced annually. Tariffs are pushing these costs even higher, making hockey more expensive for players.
- After the tariffs were imposed, retailers were told by suppliers to expect 4%-8% price increases in hockey gear.
- Most imported hockey sticks, as of January, have seen cost increases of 30%.
- One major hockey equipment manufacturer, CCM, raised its prices 14% across the board due to tariffs – and that figure could rise even higher this year.
- Tariffs have made hockey rink construction and renovation much more expensive, with dasher boards (which include steel and aluminum) and glass facing higher prices. These higher costs have impacted local governments in places like Minnesota.
- Tariffs have also increased the cost of ice rink construction, given the importance of steel and aluminum in building artificial ice rinks.
Rising Costs for Olympics Watch Parties
Trump and congressional Republicans’ tariffs are driving higher costs on food and beverages, raising the price tag on Olympics watch parties with friends.
Tariffs Increase The Cost of Hot Winter Drinks and Cocktails
Drinks like hot cocoa, mulled wine, and hot toddies are usually staples in the U.S. during the winter, but Republicans’ tariffs have greatly increased the cost of key ingredients in these beverages.
- Cocoa, tea, and coffee prices have increased by about 9.2% across the board, including both domestic and imported products.
- Mulled wine requires mulling spices, many of which are not grown or produced in the U.S. and thus face cost increases due to tariffs. Mulling spices often include cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and orange. India is a major exporter of most of these spices, and it has faced tariffs as high as 50%.
- Wine, the base for mulled wine, has also increased in price due to tariffs, with much of it being imported from Europe, which faces a 15% tariff. According to the Wall Street Journal, “Retailers, distributors and producers predict that Americans can expect to see their favorite European-made bottles cost as much as 15% to 30% more [in 2026].”
- Whiskey for hot toddies has also been affected by tariffs, with both imported whiskey and domestic distillers seeing impacts. Tariffs threatened to raise scotch prices for U.S. consumers by $1 per drink or roughly $12 per bottle.
Tariffs Increase the Cost of Winter & Party Foods
Tariffs have raised the cost of many food products, driving up the price of party staples like beef and other winter food items. Tariffs have also hit many luxury food items produced in Europe, including cheeses like raclette and those used for fondue, which are classic warm winter dishes.
- Beef prices in the U.S. have increased more than 16% over the last year.
- When Switzerland faced a 39% tariff rate last year, the owner of a Swiss cheese company estimated that cheese that had been priced at $15 to $50 per pound increased to $20 to $70 per pound.
- Tariffs on the EU and Switzerland are now roughly 15%, but cheeses imported to the U.S. are still impacted and face higher prices.
Rising Costs for Winter Clothing & Snow Removal
Trump and congressional Republicans’ tariffs are raising costs on winter necessities and snow removal, making traveling in the winter—like to Olympics gatherings or winter sporting events—harder and more expensive.
Tariffs Drive Costs Higher for Winter Apparel
Tariffs have hit apparel especially hard, and winter clothes are certainly no exception. In fact, among clothing items, jackets and outerwear have faced the highest price increases.
- The average price for winter jackets increased 24% in 2025 from the price of jackets in 2024.
- According to one retailer, ski clothing and gloves have faced 15-19% tariffs, which the retailer estimated would translate to a 10% increase in consumer prices last fall.
- Leather products are among the items hit hardest by tariffs, with goods seeing a price jump of 23% in the short run, impacting items like leather gloves, shoes/boots, and jackets.
Tariffs Raise the Cost of Snowplows and Affect Snow-Removal in the U.S.
With many regions of the country facing snow, ice, and extreme cold temperatures this winter, snow removal has gotten even harder due to tariffs, which have hiked up the cost of snowplows and snowblowers, and worsened America’s rock salt shortage.
- The U.S. has historically purchased snowplows from Canada, especially ones made from galvanized steel, but the tariffs on steel have slowed purchases down. The tariffs sometimes add another $500 to the pricepoint of a plow, which has discouraged U.S. buyers from purchasing snowplows.
- Tariffs have also raised the cost of snowplows in the U.S. since one of the key components in snowplow blades is tungsten, of which China holds 80% of the world’s reserve.
- Tariffs are increasing the cost of snowblowers by 10% or more, potentially even by hundreds of dollars.
- Tariffs on steel and aluminum have increased the cost of snowblowers by raising production costs for domestic manufacturers.
- The U.S. imports rock salt needed for road de-icing from Mexico, Canada, and other countries that have been subject to tariffs, and as a result the tariffs have threatened to worsen the rock salt shortage in the U.S.